Warren Blames DOJ for UnitedHealth Amedisys Deal
Sen. Elizabeth Warren says the Justice Department let UnitedHealth Group complete its $3.3 billion purchase of home health provider Amedisys.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Healthcare
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren blamed the Trump administration's Justice Department for allowing UnitedHealth Group to buy Amedisys for $3.3 billion. The DOJ had sued to block the deal in November 2024 before reaching a settlement requiring the sale of 164 locations.
Why it matters
Warren argues the combination gives UnitedHealth more power to raise costs and deny care, a concern central to her push for legislation targeting vertically integrated healthcare companies. The case highlights how settlements, rather than blocked mergers, are shaping consolidation across U.S. healthcare.
The settlement requires divesting 164 home health and hospice locations in 19 states, which generated about $528 million a year, against the $3.3 billion purchase price. Amedisys also paid a $1.1 million civil penalty for inaccurate information during the antitrust review, and the sales remain under a court-appointed monitor.
The players
Elizabeth Warren
Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts who has led congressional efforts to curb healthcare consolidation and co-sponsored the Patients Before Monopolies Act.
Josh Hawley
Republican U.S. senator from Missouri who co-sponsored the Patients Before Monopolies Act with Warren.
UnitedHealth Group
The largest U.S. health insurer, which operates insurance, pharmacy and care businesses and acquired Amedisys.
Amedisys
A U.S. home health and hospice provider whose acquisition by UnitedHealth Group drew federal antitrust scrutiny.
The details
The Justice Department reached a proposed settlement in August 2025 requiring UnitedHealth and Amedisys to sell the locations, and a monitor was appointed to oversee the sales. The court approved the settlement in December 2025, and UnitedHealth shares closed 0.96% lower at $406.97 that Friday.
Timeline
November 2024: DOJ sued to block the deal.
August 2025: DOJ reached a proposed settlement.
December 2025: Court approved the settlement.
May: Patients Before Monopolies Act reintroduced.
Market Landscape
The reintroduced Patients Before Monopolies Act (S. 4509) seeks to restrict vertically integrated healthcare companies that combine insurance, pharmacy and care delivery. The UnitedHealth-Amedisys settlement, which requires selling 164 locations, illustrates how current enforcement handles such consolidation through partial divestitures rather than blocking deals outright.
Patients receiving home health or hospice care in the affected 19 states may see changes in which company operates their local locations once the divestitures are complete. Households relying on these services should watch for ownership changes that could affect pricing and availability.
The takeaway
Consolidation across insurance, pharmacy and care delivery is drawing sustained congressional scrutiny, and the outcome of antitrust settlements like this one may shape how patients access home health and hospice services. Readers should track ownership changes in their local providers.
Further reading
Explore more on Healthcare industry coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Benzinga.
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